Chapter 546: Season 2 Book 22 Battle of Life or Death – 2-4 The 2nd Round

January 23rd, 2024, 08:25

Under the sea (the Combat Intelligence Center of the Columbia [SSBN-901]), 101 kilometers from the east end of Katsuura, Chiba prefecture, Japan.

‘The Columbia (SSBN-901) had succeeded in escaping death. It had gone into silent submersion mode and traveled to the maximum depth. In the sonar operation room of the Columbia (SSBN-901), they were also looking for ally submarines with the passive sonar turned on all the way.

‘There was a report a few minutes ago that the ally submarines had been shot down, along with the two shock waves they had felt, but for an accurate assessment of the current situation, the Columbia (SSBN-901) was slowly circling the region, looking around.

“Captain, shouldn’t we get out of here first? Even if the ally submarines were able to live, they’d be hard to find with just our passive sonar because of the TQQ-3M system,” whispered the Deputy Captain in Captain Emerson Hyndman’s ear. He was right.

*The TQQ-3M system was a cutting-edge technology that was able to absorb sounds and detect waves from the outside, neutralizing both passive and active sonar.

At this, Captain Emerson Hyndman nodded and gestured to the next target region. The Columbia (SSBN-901) was 200 meters long and swam toward the north, along the Mariana trench.

But right at that moment, there were dull sounds that knocked on the outer wall of the Columbia (SSBN-901).

“What’s that?”

Surprised, Captain Emerson Hyndman looked at the combat information officer. The combat information officer, who urgently went into the sonar room, reported in. He seemed to have found out what the source of the unidentified sound was.

“It seems like the fragments that were made from the torpedo explosion fell and hit us.”

‘A few minutes ago, the S-SSFM-500B Trident that had passed by the Columbia (SSBN-901) had collided with the sea bed, causing an enormous explosion. At that point, fragments had flown hundreds of meters and were falling back to the floor.

The sounds that continued, hitting the entire body of the Columbia (SSBN-901) for 10 seconds, soon stopped. But this was very fatal for submarines that had to travel in secret with their silent submersion mode on. This was because if there were enemy submarines nearby, the location of the submarine

would be exposed.

“Captain! Why don’t we change the path we were going to take?” The Deputy Captain said, thinking that they might be exposed due to the sounds the submarine had created just moments before.

“Deputy Captain! We would never be exposed to just that amount of sound!”

“Captain! There will be around 10 destroyers creating an anti-submarine boundary to find us in the next 5 kilometers. There will be Korean submarines gathering here, as well.

“The current depth is 2,000. The Korean destroyers and submarines won’t even imagine that we’ll be traveling at this depth. Move quickly to the designated travel route. It’s going to be fine.”

“At the current depth, keep the same azimuth and only raise the speed to 15.” Captain Emerson Hyndman quietly ordered the pilot, ignoring the Deputy Captain’s advice.

eeK

January 23rd, 2024, 08:25

Under the sea (the battle control room of the Jang Bogo [SS-061]), 105 kilometers from the east end of Katsura, Chiba prefecture, Japan

The Jang Bogo ($S-061) had traveled here at maximum speed after finding out, from its low-frequency communication system, that the destroyers and the frigates of the combined fleet were being surprise attacked by torpedoes from an unidentified submarine. It had detected the general location of the

submarine through the large and small explosion sound waves, and it was following it silently at a depth of 250 meters.

But it was impossible to know the exact location of the enemy submarine. While it was traveling, along with the general location information and the predicted path of movement, the sonar operations officer succeeded in picking up continuous sounds that were occurring at a depth of 2,000 meters.

At first, the sonar operations officer was confused as to what this sound was, but from the experience that he had accumulated during his three years of working at the Jang Bogo (SS-061), he became certain that these sounds were made from something hitting the outside of a submarine.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, sir. This is a sound created by the submarine’s outer wall.”

“But the depth is 2,000 meters?”

“That is, that part is a bit weird to me as well, but I’m certain that this is a submarine.”

“A submarine that can travel at a depth of 2,000 meters…”

At the report of the sonar operations officer, not easily understood in the current common sense, Captain Oh Sung-won shook his head. At this, the battle control officer added to the claim of the sonar operations officer.

“Captain! There may be an American submarine that can travel at 2,000 meters. If they developed it for that purpose, that is.”

“Mm, that’s true! Distance! Confirm the azimuth!” Captain Oh Sung-won, who had fallen into his thoughts while petting his chin, gave his orders to the battle control officer.

“The target is assumed to be a submarine! The distance is 5,300. The azimuth is 3-0-4. It’s currently traveling at a speed of 10 knots.”

“Good! Sonar operations officer, make sure you don’t lose the location of that b*stard.”

“Yes, sir.”

At the confident voice of the sonar operations officer, Captain Oh gave additional orders. “From this point on, go into silent submersion mode. Pilot, move right to the azimuth of 3-0-4! Travel at the speed of 13 knots until we get to maximum depth, traveling down at an angle of 10.”

At Captain Oh’s orders, the Jang Bogo (SS-061) seemed to be turning slightly right but soon tilted toward the sea bed, traveling to a deeper part of the sea.

‘The underwater pursuit of the Jang Bogo (SS-061), the oldest and smallest submarine of the Republic of Korea Navy, toward the newest model of the U.S. strategic nuclear submarine has begun.

eeK

January 23rd, 2024, 08:40 (Time in the U.S. January 22nd, 19:35)

Building of the Harry S. Truman State Department building, Washington D.C, USA

Ambassador Oh Dong-jin, who had waited for 30 minutes in the reception room after he arrived at the State Department building, had gone into a discussion with Assistant Secretary Julian Green about the contents that the Blue House wanted to relay. But Assistant Secretary Julian Green, who was

listening, was very cold about it.

As if he had been forced to come out, Assistant Secretary Julian Green’s expression and tone of voice, as well as the atmosphere he created, seemed to suggest that he was implying that he wouldn’t listen to anything the Republic of Korea would say. But because of his attitude, Ambassador Oh Dong-jin

wanted even more, from his sense of duty, to persuade him by supporting his words with even more reasons than he thought up on the spot.

“Assistant Secretary Green! Aren’t we, the Republic of Korea and the United States, originally allies? It’s true that we drifted apart a bit in politics, but President Choo wants the relationship with the U.S. to be reformed. She wants a peaceful resolution to the naval battle that happened just like three years

ago.”

“Mm, the U.S. and the Republic of Korea were once allies. By sending the most men to help out, we have protected you from North Korea during the 6/25 war, as well as made you an independent country from under Japanese rule. But it seems like Korea has long since forgotten these favors that the U.S.

has done for it. In addition, to calling us allies…”

Assistant Secretary Julian Green made a slightly bitter face. Suddenly, Ambassador Oh Dong-jin felt an urge to punch him.

Ambassador Oh Dong-jin, who wanted to grab his collar and argue, kept his calm composure and asked quietly, “Forget? How could that be? Isn’t that why I’m here to relay President Choo’s intentions?”

Unlike Ambassador Oh Dong-jin, who was lowering himself and speaking in the most polite tone possible to negotiate, Assistant Secretary Julian Green, with his uninterested attitude, began to act haughtily.

“Good. Since the President of the Republic of Korea wants a peaceful resolution, let me say one thing. We have engaged in battle with the Korean fleet at Japan’s request as their allies, keeping international laws in mind. Therefore, we can’t go into negotiation with the Republic of Korea just like that. So, to

move the White House…” Assistant Secretary Julian Green trailed off after he skirted around the topic by bringing up that the first strike against the combined fleet of the Republic of Korea was completely legal according to international law.

“Yes, please go on.”

“Shouldn’t there be something of cost from the Republic of Korea?”

“Cost? We’re trying to resolve something that could expand to be World War III, and you’re talking about cost?” Ambassador Oh Dong-jin raised his voice and asked in an unhappy tone. It seemed like he had reached the last straw in his patience.

“Lmean, isn’t it customary that the side that wants to resolve things peacefully offers up something of value that corresponds to it?”

“Assistant Secretary Green! Isn’t that only done when one side is unable to fight anymore? Currently, both sides are equally competent, so wanting something of value is going too far.”

“Haha! Really? You pleaded so much that I told you how you could make this work, but you’re reacting like that?”

The inside of Ambassador Oh Dong-jin boiled. He wanted to flip the table, but he continued to keep it together and attempted to continue the conversation.

“Assistant Secretary Green! Then, what is it that you want?” Assistant Secretary Julian Green lay down in a comfortable position on the sofa and spread his palms as Ambassador Oh Dong-jin asked patiently.

“Mm, all the technology related to plasma.”

“What? Did you say all of the technology related to plasma?”

Right at that moment, there was a vibration. It was Ambassador Oh Dong-jin’s smartphone. This was an important meeting, but the smartphone that was vibrating was the one that he used to communicate with the Republic of Korea, so he had to pick it up.

“Lapologize. I need to take this call.”

Even knowing that it wasn’t polite, Ambassador Oh Dong-jin turned around and picked up the call.

“Yes, this is Oh Dong-jin. Yes, yes? Yes, I understand.”

Ambassador Oh Dong-jin finished the short call and loosened the tie that was tied tight. He said, with a relaxed expression, “Haha! It was an urgent call, so please forgive my impoliteness. Then, should we continue our conversation? You said all of the technology related to plasma just now, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Assistant Secretary Julian Green replied, pulling himself upright upon noticing that Ambassador Oh Dong-jin’s expression had changed after taking the call.

“Hahaha, no matter how I think about it, the U.S. is too greedy.”

As Assistant Secretary Julian Green had felt, Ambassador Oh Dong-jin’s expression and tone of voice had changed 180 degrees.

“What? Greedy? Are you done?”

“Ah! No, I’m not done yet. What do you want from us, the Republic of Korea, even when we’re trying to resolve things peacefully after you’ve attacked us first without notice? I’m amazed. Have you still not broken the habits you formed when you started wars all over the world under the guise of

maintaining world order?”

At Ambassador Oh Dong-jin’s frank statement, Assistant Secretary Julian Green got up from his seat and shouted, “Look here, Ambassador Oh! Did you just say that? You’ll regret saying that!”

At Assistant Secretary Julian Green’s threat, Ambassador Oh Dong-jin showed his relaxed attitude and replied, “Sure, one country, out of the Republic of Korea and the U.S., will regret it sorely. But let me tell you that the Republic of Korea will not be the one to regret anything. I’ll be going now since there

are orders from the President for me to return.”

Assistant Secretary Julian Green was stunned at the changed attitude of Ambassador Oh Dong-jin. As he passed by, Ambassador Oh Dong-jin said one more thing, “It was only a short time, but it was beneficial. Ah! Would you relay my message to Minister Maine Johnson—that we’ll have him take the

responsibility for what happened at Riga, Latvia.”

“What? What do you mean?”

Ambassador Oh Dong-jin walked toward the reception room’s door without looking back at Assistant Secretary Julian Green, who was pointing at him and asking. Right in front of the door, Ambassador Oh Dong-jin turned around, smiled widely, waved, opened the door, and left..